It's not the magic of friendship...it's the magic of the mane six friendship

[Silver Stream. 708]

It's not even about the Mane 6's friendship, it's specifically about Rainbow Dash. That one pony is the lynchpin holding the world together. Without her, everyone else is screwed.

One could say that being it was her rainboom that sealed their future friendship. But if you put it like that, then one could also say it was Fluttershy..... since it was because of her, RD challenged them to the race. Or heck....we could give the real Equestrian lifeline title to the two colts who teased Fluttershy leading to RD racing in her honor.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,980]

Gotta agree with this entirely. Not only did the finale make Starlight far too powerful without any proper justification, it also made the rest of Equestria seem pretty useless in the idea of friendship, which really hurts the whole harmony concept. On top of having a friggin' time alteration plot to begin with, I feel like the finale was pretty pointless. I do admit that the time alteration thing could have been worse though. I personally think season 5, while it being my favorite season so far, has had both the worst premiere and finale in the show. 

 

 

That's one of the Reason why I consider "The Cutie Re-Mark" to be the worst Season Finale. Honestly I would have rather have "Do Princesses dream of Magic Sheep" as a two-parter Finale, because here the whole Town helps in defeating the Tantabus... just imagine the first Part being Luna trying to catch the Tantabus in the Mane 6 Dreams and the second Part is the Battle in Dream-Ponyville (also that would have allowed the Writers to Show of more Dreamforms) till Luna forgives herself

I wish I could brohoof this at least 1,000 times more. This would have been such a better idea.

[Number62 1,264]

I pretty much agree with this. Apparently, nopony in Equestria matters if the Mane 6 aren't friends at all.

 

Twilight even mentions broken friendships weakening Equestria, but don't friendships get broken all the time? At least, that's the case in reality, but that idea doesn't sound far-fetched for the show. And even then, new friendships are created.

 

Maybe if the idea could get explored more, but I doubt the execution will be good if it does happen.

 

The finale would've been more layered if positive futures/timelines were shown because Twilight would have to wonder what she or anypony means to Equestria.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

It's not even about the Mane 6's friendship, it's specifically about Rainbow Dash. That one pony is the lynchpin holding the world together. Without her, everyone else is screwed.

Eh. Not really, you still saw dash in all the timelines and she wasn't accomplishing jack shit (even working for NMM in one). The one pony missing in the timelines was TWILIGHT.

 

it came off more that Twilight was the important one, but that she needed her potential unlocked to let her save the world. Hell, she was the one who saved the world in this one after all, no help given

Not much help to be friends against a raging Demi-god if you lack the power to back it up.

 

 

Gotta agree with this entirely. Not only did the finale make Starlight far too powerful without any proper justification, it also made the rest of Equestria seem pretty useless in the idea of friendship, which really hurts the whole harmony concept. On top of having a friggin' time alteration plot to begin with, I feel like the finale was pretty pointless. I do admit that the time alteration thing could have been worse though. I personally think season 5, while it being my favorite season so far, has had both the worst premiere and finale in the show. 

 

 

I wish I could brohoof this at least 1,000 times more. This would have been such a better idea.

 

 

 

Agreed. This is a major reason that while I say that I think its a decent episode its a TERRIBLE finale, because its NOT about a group of friends solving the problem in any ways shape or form; its a solo adventure without anything about a group with bonds with each other stopping the problem.

 

I feel like this season ended without a proper finale more than anything.

It was not the elements of harmony that saved the day, it was literally the magic of friendship that was their ultimate victory despite the Tree of Harmony seemingly giving aid to them becoming "buy me" power ponies.

 

Eh, I'll disagree with you there. If the Tree of harmony hadn't given them an "I win" magic boost, their friendship would have meant jack. They were utterly powerless to stop tirek without a box of super power being supplied by the tree, Friendship or no

Edited December 24, 2015 by Unlikeable Pony

[Silver Stream. 708]

Eh. Not really, you still saw dash in all the timelines and she wasn't accomplishing jack shit (even working for NMM in one). The one pony missing in the timelines was TWILIGHT.

 

it came off more that Twilight was the important one, but that she needed her potential unlocked to let her save the world. Hell, she was the one who saved the world in this one after all, no help given

Not much help to be friends against a raging Demi-god if you lack the power to back it up.

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed. This is a major reason that while I say that I think its a decent episode its a TERRIBLE finale, because its NOT about a group of friends solving the problem in any ways shape or form; its a solo adventure without anything about a group with bonds with each other stopping the problem.

 

I feel like this season ended without a proper finale more than anything.

 

Eh, I'll disagree with you there. If the Tree of harmony hadn't given them an "I win" magic boost, their friendship would have meant jack. They were utterly powerless to stop tirek without a box of super power being supplied by the tree, Friendship or no

I had mentioned that the tree of harmony aided them didn't I? But it WAS the magic of friendship.....I am pretty sure it would not have opened had it not been from the keys which were earned by each struggle which are associated with the elements of friendship  Therefore it was ultimately i's own power that unlocked the box. In fact, an act of true friendship which was forgiveness (twilight forgiving Discord) that gave them the last ket

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

I had mentioned that the tree of harmony aided them didn't I? But it WAS the magic of friendship.....I am pretty sure it would not have opened had it not been from the keys which were earned by each struggle which are associated with the elements of friendship  Therefore it was ultimately i's own power that unlocked the box. In fact, an act of true friendship which was forgiveness (twilight forgiving Discord) that gave them the last ket

Even if the magic of friendship was required to open the box, without the Box itself, Friendship is useless.

 

 

Friendship is just a key to a box, But the truly important thing was what was INSIDE the box, not the key. Like having a key to a box with a gun in it: The key isn't what's important to defend yourself, its the gun in the box.

[Silver Stream. 708]

Even if the magic of friendship was required to open the box, without the Box itself, Friendship is useless.

 

 

Friendship is just a key to a box, But the truly important thing was what was INSIDE the box, not the key. Like having a key to a box with a gun in it: The key isn't what's important to defend yourself, its the gun in the box.

 

True, the key is what's important to defend yourself. But without friendship, the key would be nonexistent would it not? The true important thing is the one thing that gives you the key to any answer or solution.....or it is in my perspective. 

Edited December 24, 2015 by Silver Stream.

[Megas 27,921]

Eh. Not really, you still saw dash in all the timelines and she wasn't accomplishing jack shit (even working for NMM in one). The one pony missing in the timelines was TWILIGHT.

 

it came off more that Twilight was the important one, but that she needed her potential unlocked to let her save the world. Hell, she was the one who saved the world in this one after all, no help given

Not much help to be friends against a raging Demi-god if you lack the power to back it up.

Yeah, despite talking about how important the Rainboom was throughout the episode(and the show for that matter), Dash felt pretty damn insignificant just like the rest of the mane 6 sans Twilight....which still bugged me

Edited December 24, 2015 by Santa Megas

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

Well, who else would have saved Equestria from the Villains we've seen so far?

 

This is going by the butterfly effect and Starlight changed quite a major event. Who would have hatched Spike? Who would have saved Cadence from that mine? Who would stopped and reformed Discord?

Edited December 24, 2015 by The Coffee Pony

[Silver Stream. 708]

Well, who else would have saved Equestria from the Villains we've seen so far?

 

This is going by the butterfly effect and Starlight changed quite a major event. Who would have hatched Spike? Who would have saved Cadence from that mine? Who would stopped and reformed Discord?

If it goes by a butterfly effect, would we even be sure if Cadence ever even became a princess. Not once do we see her...it could.just be coincidence but no one knows. As for hatching Spike's egg there ate two possibilities: SOMEONE ELSE hatching it or it simply never hatches. That doesn't mean it dooms future battles for instance with Sombra.

 

Another kind soul could have stopped and reformed discord. There are others capable of representing the elements..... it's obviously proven you don't have to perfect the element to represent it since the mane six doesn't.

 

 

Regardless, there is or I personally believe there SHOULD be another way.even if it isn't easier than the first choice which is the mane 6. I would have preferred there be some sort of hints within the alternate future with the good side slowly rising above the hell they are in, but it doesn't which is a bit depressing itself. At least it is for me xD

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

Well, who else would have saved Equestria from the Villains we've seen so far?

 

Celestia and luna are capable of defeating chrysalis; chrysalis could easily have been exposed without twilight around without breaking disbelief: chrysalis wasn't exactly the most subtle doppleganger after all

 

 

Sombra should pretty much have been an auto-win for the forces of good without the mane six around,  since Celestia DELIBERATELY stacked the deck in his favor to give twilight a test by not having her and Luna go (when they'd beaten him in the past very handily), and there was a fairly easy "instant win" condition of finding the crystal heart.

Honestly, the only way I see the crystal timeline happening would be that Celestia ended up taking on a student (Twilight or another) and did the same Idiotic "Test" thing and had it blow up in her face XD

 

 

Tirek, He's not actually that hard to stop. He's like a carry in DOTA, he's very weak early on and he's not exactly uber-subtle. He only got so strong because of Discord basically chaufering him around and spoon feeding him. So without discord aiding him he should be easily stoppable by alicorns.

Plus, he only escaped due to Cerberus wandering away, which might not have happened in an alternate timeline.

 

 

Honestly, the only villain that's really hard to explain away without the mane six is Discord, as he honestly is pretty OP godmode strong without the elements of harmony around to stop him.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

I agree with what went on here in the finale. Not all of these alternate "villains win" scenarios were necessary for anything other than pure entertainment value (maybe only one or two would have been good for the plot) and it would have been interesting to see an alternate Mane 6 composed of different characters taking up the Elements of Harmony instead of every possible reality being a dystopia. However, that would have meant concepts either too heady for this show or too dense for a 44-minute two-parter.

 

I did find it especially disappointing that we had another season finale that depicted Equestria as completely lost without the Mane 6 after the Mane 6 handed the ball off to new characters to save the day against the same villain in the premiere.

 

Although the time-travel concepts were a fairly new addition, the novelty of MLP doing such "inspired" concepts has worn off (for me at least, for others, probably not so much) after a fight scene in the Season 4 finale, dystopian fiction and political references in the Season 5 premiere, and a whole season generally dedicated to exploring new themes and characters while retaining old ones. You can't use that to hide the fact that many plot elements here were copped from other two-parters and Equestria Girls movies with little to no building on them, and Starlight Glimmer's method of reformation came off as crammed and derivative of many times MLP had done such before.

 

I was hoping for a more collaborative effort to hunt down and stop Starlight Glimmer in this episode, but unfortunately, we got more of the usual. So I see where you're coming from.

Edited December 25, 2015 by BigEasternSyndicate

[ManaMinori 4,146]

Does any of this deter people from continuing investing in watching FiM, from seaon 6 onward, with such a masive crap taken on the importance of other fridndships of other ponies other than the mane 6.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

Does any of this deter people from continuing investing in watching FiM, from seaon 6 onward, with such a masive crap taken on the importance of other fridndships of other ponies other than the mane 6.

 

Nah, its more the introduction and heavy focus on starlight glimmer, a character who I honestly do NOT care for plus the lack of focus on the other 5 in the finale (and Friendship games) that makes me lose interest

 

So while I DO have a loss of interest, its for completely different reasons XD (Though seriously, compared to S4 where I had a HUGE amount of enthusiasm for what was to come, this is a massive drop in interest, comparable only to S3's drop in interest)

[Odd Ball 231]

Nah, its more the introduction and heavy focus on starlight glimmer, a character who I honestly do NOT care for plus the lack of focus on the other 5 in the finale (and Friendship games) that makes me lose interest

 

So while I DO have a loss of interest, its for completely different reasons XD (Though seriously, compared to S4 where I had a HUGE amount of enthusiasm for what was to come, this is a massive drop in interest, comparable only to S3's drop in interest)

Despite her weak backstory, I think Starlight Glimmer has the potential to be a great character. I'm hoping she is somehow related to Starswirl the Bearded.

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

Does any of this deter people from continuing investing in watching FiM, from seaon 6 onward, with such a masive crap taken on the importance of other fridndships of other ponies other than the mane 6.

 

Nope! The show is still quite enjoyable and the majority of episodes for this season were still quite good. I have no reason to stop watching it.

[Silver Stream. 708]

My only regret is the hypocritical line that goes against everything we've witnessed. The writers would have done better owning up to an unfair truth rather than trying to avoid it

 

Doesn't make the show less enjoyable. As I said, I never had troubles with the mane sox being the heroes all the time...I mean that's how any show work.

Edited December 25, 2015 by Silver Stream.

[Number62 1,264]

My interest and expectations for the 2-parters have been worse than abysmal since "A Canterlot Wedding" because they've always been the same regurgitated trash: making the Mane 6 (emphasis on Twilight) the only useful characters at the expense of everypony else, and the characters act like utter idiots so the story can actually work. I wouldn't mind the latter if the story is interesting, but since that's not the case for FIM...

 

The former is doing more damage than it should because those stories are losing more and more credibility. The Mane 6 not getting recognition for their acts is one thing, but it also means that the Mane 6 generally don't go out of their way to be the guardians of Equestria (i.e. they're not superheroes). If the main guardian figures (i.e. the alicorn sisters) are always powerless against some random threat, how has Equestria even lasted before the Mane 6 existed? And making the non-Twilight alicorns constantly useless is just plain lousy writing.

 

Admittedly, there are 2-parters I like (the premiere, "Princess Twilight Sparkle", "The Cutie Map"), but they're just exceptions.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

My interest and expectations for the 2-parters have been worse than abysmal since "A Canterlot Wedding" because they've always been the same regurgitated trash: making the Mane 6 (emphasis on Twilight) the only useful characters at the expense of everypony else, and the characters act like utter idiots so the story can actually work. I wouldn't mind the latter if the story is interesting, but since that's not the case for FIM...

 

The former is doing more damage than it should because those stories are losing more and more credibility. The Mane 6 not getting recognition for their acts is one thing, but it also means that the Mane 6 generally don't go out of their way to be the guardians of Equestria (i.e. they're not superheroes). If the main guardian figures (i.e. the alicorn sisters) are always powerless against some random threat, how has Equestria even lasted before the Mane 6 existed? And making the non-Twilight alicorns constantly useless is just plain lousy writing.

 

Admittedly, there are 2-parters I like (the premiere, "Princess Twilight Sparkle", "The Cutie Map"), but they're just exceptions.

 

Just read this and kind of felt like responding to it specifically because of the phrase you use with "guardians of equestria".

 

Just kind of find it funny considering hasbro trademarked something called "Guardians of harmony" A bit ago for a toyline

Hasbro might demand they change the status quo up and try and have the mane six actually get recognition at some point by the general populace. (or it could, for all we know, just be a EQG thing or something toyline)

[Goat-kun 2,530]

Few things rustle my jimmies more that a shitty story that tries to sell itself as good. Look, people like Adam Sandler have turned turd movies into an art, but we all know they’re dung and sometimes one just wants to watch a crappy movie damn it! We all need a little fecal matter in our lives from time to time.

 

But MLP writers have been doing this thing where they’ve been treating continuity and logic as fanservice. At least I’ve been getting these vibes that an episode’s own story and friendship lesson somehow overrules show itself if this episode’s story and lesson turn out to be good enough on the drawing board. Normally, a happy little show like MLP: FIM can get away with it quite easily. With its bright atmosphere, whimsical nature, relatable and awesome characters it doesn’t really need a deep story. The problem arises when writers want to address more sophisticated themes and introduce more intricate plots while treating them with the same attitude as those slice of life episodes where one couldn’t give two scoops of poop for continuity and lore. That, in my opinion, is the reason this show is slowly starting to lose its colors. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t turn such a show into something that it doesn’t want to be without some serious effort and caution. And besides, nothing they’re doing is actually so interesting (thematically or visually) that one would get blind to all those inconsistencies and sloppy design. As a chef would say: this pony soup has no wow effect!

 

Note that this is just me croaking my usual junk. It’s not a major concern where we stand, but it can become a death by thousand derps in some distant? future. Wouldn’t be the first time, wouldn’t be the last.

 

P.S: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[Nightmare_Shinigami 31]

Does any of this deter people from continuing investing in watching FiM, from seaon 6 onward, with such a masive crap taken on the importance of other fridndships of other ponies other than the mane 6.

 

Honestly I already lost interest in the Series after "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" aired... I'm not saying that it's a bad Episode (in Fact it's even my favorite) but the Episodes after that were not that interesting for me (even that Guest Star-Episode which I found overrated) that I just watched Reviews and Reaction-Videos... and yes, even tho almost every Reviewer praised the Finale to no End I still hate it.

 

But I will still gonna watch the Season 6 Finale to give the Show one last Chance (that Chance being not having worst Pony as the new Member of the Mane 6)

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

But I will still gonna watch the Season 6 Finale to give the Show one last Chance (that Chance being not having worst Pony as the new Member of the Mane 6)

 

Wouldn't the s6 premier give a better idea of that than the finale? I mean if they're going to make starlight a mane seven or EOH it'll happen in the premier where she'll be shilled like crazy.

[Silver Stream. 708]

Honestly I already lost interest in the Series after "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" aired... I'm not saying that it's a bad Episode (in Fact it's even my favorite) but the Episodes after that were not that interesting for me (even that Guest Star-Episode which I found overrated) that I just watched Reviews and Reaction-Videos... and yes, even tho almost every Reviewer praised the Finale to no End I still hate it.

 

But I will still gonna watch the Season 6 Finale to give the Show one last Chance (that Chance being not having worst Pony as the new Member of the Mane 6)

Glad I'm not the only one who didn't worship that episode.

[PacificGreen 1,163]

(Haven't read all the replies, so forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has said or am not really following).

 

I actually had the same concern about this episode. I know the Mane Six have defeated several villains, but I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of "Equestria is essentially helpless without the Mane Six", which the episode seemed to be saying.

 

I wonder what would have happened if Starlight had stopped another friendship from occurring, like Lyra and Bon Bon's, or the friendship between two castle guards...maybe they wouldn't have resulted in a barren wasteland, but could some other disastrous event have occurred if Starlight were to do that?

[Silver Stream. 708]

(Haven't read all the replies, so forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has said or am not really following).

 

I actually had the same concern about this episode. I know the Mane Six have defeated several villains, but I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of "Equestria is essentially helpless without the Mane Six", which the episode seemed to be saying.

 

I wonder what would have happened if Starlight had stopped another friendship from occurring, like Lyra and Bon Bon's, or the friendship between two castle guards...maybe they wouldn't have resulted in a barren wasteland, but could some other disastrous event have occurred if Starlight were to do that?

 

Possibly.....but odds are it would only affect their own lives and others who were closely associated with them. Nothing as severe as all of Equestria. 

 

But I'm not disputing the fact that breaking the friendship of the mane 6 SHOULDN'T have affected Equestria like that. By all means, I'm aware that with each "boss battle" they'eve encountered...it had something to do with saving the world. My real problem is the fact that there is no alternative. True, it's highly likely the Tree of Harmony placed all it's bets on Twilight since her cutiemark is suspected to be linked to it?......but the fact that ALL it's bets were placed on her and no other ponies who could represent the elements and save the day is sad. 

 

 

And even with the villains winning......at least spark some hope that later along the line, their answer will rise and they will reclaim victory somehow someway. That the magic of friendship will prevail or the elements will find others out there. 

 

 

Again, it's just my own concerns...I don't expect the writers to fill in every little crack of a plot to ensure every possible scenario leads to a good guy's victory. But that phrase was hypocritical nonetheless.